The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - October 31, 2024

Episode Date: October 31, 2024

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Howdy folks, today is Thursday, October 31. And you're listening to the Texans daily rundown. I'm the Texans assistant editor Rob Lausches. And here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, a request for sponsorships of up to $100,000 from Houston controller Chris Hollins to attend an annual investor conference is drawing more scrutiny and allegations of pay to play due to emails obtained by local media that show a top sponsor became a preferred vendor earlier this year. Earlier this month, Houston Mayor John Whitmire sounded the alarm over the sponsorship requests sent primarily to underwriters of Citi Bonds.

But Hollins called the issue a nothing burger and a, quote, waste of everybody's time. This week, however, KPRC Houston reporter Mario Diaz unveiled emails exchanged with Hollins staff and United Airlines regarding an improvement project at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport regarding Chicago-based Loop Capital, the top sponsor for the investor conference. On August 1st, a United official wrote that they had chosen Bank of America as the lead underwriter for the project. But the next day, Vernon Lewis, director of the Treasury Division under Hollins, emailed United to advise he would be meeting with city officials to go over the request.

Although a second email from United just days later reiterated the request for Bank of America, on August 16th, United wrote to request Loop Capital as a senior underwriter. In other news, in addition to federal and state races, Dallas residents are being asked to vote on 18 amendments to the city's charter, the organizational document that governs the city's powers, functions, and procedures. Four of the widely publicized amendments involve reducing enforcement for marijuana possession, allowing for citizen enforcement of city ordinances, implementing an annual survey about the city manager's performance,

and funding for fire and police services. Residents can cast their vote during early voting now through Friday, November 1st, or on Election Day, November 5th. Here are a few of the propositions. Proposition B would add a preamble to the city charter, quote, that declares the city to be an equitable democracy comprised of representatives that act to make the city fair, equitable, just, and safe for all residents. Proposition H would eliminate the requirement that those who serve on various city boards and commissions be registered to vote, a qualified voter, or a taxpayer, and require only that they be a resident of the city of Dallas. Proposition R, known as the Dallas Freedom Act, would prohibit Dallas police from making, quote, any arrest or issuing any citation for Class A

or Class B misdemeanor marijuana possession, except in the limited cases described by this policy, end quote. Dallas police would also be prohibited from using the odor of marijuana as a probable cause for search or seizure. Last but not least, Dallas and Tarrant County residents will vote on over $300 million in bonds during the November 5th election across the metropolitan area. Nearly $1.7 billion in school bonds were passed in North Texas during the May election, so November is unusually small in this regard. Also on the ballot are three voter approval tax rate elections, or VATREs, as state law requires that school districts seek voter approval to raise their tax rate above a 2.5% increase. Also of note is Rockwall Independent School District, which is proposing an $848

million bond package and VATRE. In Dallas County, three ISDs and one municipality have proposals on the ballot. Highland Park ISD is proposing the district's first bond since 2015. The district, loaded just north of downtown Dallas, has 6,437 students enrolled. The bond proposal is in the form of a single proposition for $137.3 million. The bond would pay for district-wide renovations, specific projects, land acquisition, and general district-wide improvements. The district says that the bond would allow them to redirect around $2.5 million to operations that will likely go toward teacher salaries. The bond will also not increase the property tax rate, though it is still a tax increase as the no new revenue rate is not on the table.

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